Peacock stands out as one of the most underrated streaming services currently operating. The NBCUniversal-owned streamer has a great catalog of new hits, older classics, and fantastic originals such as Poker Face and the 2022 slasher movie Sick.
Whether you're trying to find something to watch tonight or your subscription expires soon, horror enthusiasts need to watch Sick if they haven't already. It's a lean, mean slasher set during the pandemic, but don't let that dissuade you from giving it a chance!
Like many of the past decade's best horror films, Sick is a Blumhouse co-production. Perhaps the biggest draw to this film is that original Scream scribe Kevin Williamson co-wrote the script with Katelyn Crabb.
John Hyams (Alone) directed. Williamson's involvement is so pertinent because Sick feels like a Scream offshoot in many ways. It features an iconic chase sequence and plenty of snappy, fast-paced dialogue.
What is Sick about?
Even though Sick wasn't released on Peacock until 2022, the movie is set at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Like Scream, it opens with a murder to set the stage for what's to come.
The main story takes place at a secluded lake house where best friends Parker (Gideon Adlon) and Miri (Beth Million) are quarantining together. Shortly after arriving, Parker receives strange and threatening text messages from an unknown sender. The night only becomes more frightening from there as the girls are targeted by a killer.
Sick is a must-watch, but Peacock is home to many horror movies. Other great picks include They/Them, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, The Purge, Five Nights at Freddy's, and Synchronic. This year's Blumhouse release, Wolf Man, was also recently added to the streamer.
What did critics say about Sick?
Critics loved Sick. It received an 85% approval rate based on more than 60 reviews on Rotten Tomatoes, along with a Certified Fresh seal of approval. Most praise went toward the tight script and the movie's social commentary.
RogerEbert.com reviewer Simon Abrams wrote, "Sick is exactly what it looks like, and a lot of mean-spirited fun at that."
Avid horror fans like myself appreciated the film's dedication to keeping its premise simple but effective. Where Sick really excels is in its stunt work, with the middle of the movie featuring one of the best chases and fight sequences in recent memory. Hyams directed with style and keen insight into what keeps audiences engaged during slashers.